McKinney | May 2022

INSIDE INFORMATION

LIBRARY BOOKS SELECTED? McKinney ISD defines “instructional materials” as textbooks, library materials, supplemental classroom resources and electronic resources. HOW ARE

MCKINNEY ISD’S School board policy states that any parent, employee or district resident may challenge an instructional resource on the basis of appropriateness. An April letter from the district said that in the past 10 years, only five MISD library books have been challenged. STEP 1: INFORMAL RECONSIDERATION CHALLENGE PROCESS

A principal or other campus designee explains the selection process and the qualifications of the staff who chose the resource in question. The designee also explains the intended purpose of the resource and offers an alternative to be used in place of the challenged material.

A formal reconsideration can be started by:

The representative giving the complainant a form

The complainant submitting the completed form to the representative

Reconsideration committees are guided by the following question:

STEP 2: CAMPUS-LEVEL RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE

Is the resource appropriate for its intended educational purpose?

Every school has a reconsideration committee that consists of:

The committee determines whether the material meets the district’s selection criteria. Each member of the committee will review the challenged material in its entirety. A written report goes to the principal or designee, the superintendent and the complainant.

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• library staff • secondary-level students • parents • a member who has experience using the challenged resource with students • anyone else “deemed appropriate” by the principal

Campuses should have a “wide range” of instructional materials that “present varying levels of difficulty” and “a variety of points of view,” per school board policy. The ultimate authority for determining and approving curriculum lies within the school board.

STEP 3: APPEALS

CAMPUS APPEALS

Selection is an ongoing process that includes removing materials that are no longer appropriate and the periodic replacement or repair of resources that still have educational value. During the process, staff are tasked with ensuring resources: Meet high standards for artistic quality, literary style, readability and educational significance Are age appropriate Motivate students and staff to examine their behavior, understand their roles in society and make informed decisions

Complainants may appeal the decision of a campus-level committee to the district-level reconsideration committee, which includes

Appeals must be filed within seven days of the campus-level committee decision and should include:

• documentation of the informal reconsideration process; • the original form provided by the district; • the campus-level committee’s report; and • dates of conferences with the campus representative.

• a campus administrator • the assistant superintendent; and • the senior director of curriculum and instruction

DISTRICT APPEALS

The district-level committee will review the challenged material in its entirety, along with the findings of the campus-level committee.

The complainant may appeal the decision of the district-level committee with the board of trustees. Challenged materials may not be removed solely because of the ideas expressed.

SOURCE: MCKINNEY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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